US6082328A — Method and apparatus to accomplish exhaust air re…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 89 words

In an internal combustion engine, a system for utilizing energy derived from the engine to selectively open at least one cylinder valve, comprising: energy deriving means for deriving energy from the engine; energy storage means for storing energy received from said energy deriving means; control means for controlling the application of the energy stored in said storage means to open the at least one valve during predetermined engine operating conditions; and valve actuating means for opening the at least one cylinder valve using energy received from said control means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 89 words

In an internal combustion engine, a system for utilizing energy derived from the engine to selectively open at least one cylinder valve, comprising: energy deriving means for deriving energy from the engine; energy storage means for storing energy received from said energy deriving means; control means for controlling the application of the energy stored in said storage means to open the at least one valve during predetermined engine operating conditions; and valve actuating means for opening the at least one cylinder valve using energy received from said control means.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 49 words

A method of operating an internal combustion engine to provide exhaust gas recirculation, said method comprising the steps of: deriving energy from an engine component; temporarily storing said energy; and selectively applying said energy to open at least one engine valve to carry out variable timing exhaust gas recirculation.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 49 words

A method of operating an internal combustion engine to provide exhaust gas recirculation, said method comprising the steps of: deriving energy from an engine component; temporarily storing said energy; and selectively applying said energy to open at least one engine valve to carry out variable timing exhaust gas recirculation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising the provision of compression release retarding in combination with said exhaust gas recirculation through the steps of: deriving energy from a second engine component; temporarily storing said energy; and selectively applying said energy to open at least one engine valve to carry out compression release retarding.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 3 further comprising the provision of exhaust braking in combination with said exhaust gas recirculation and said compression release retarding.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 112 words

In an internal combustion engine, a system for opening at least one valve of the engine to provide exhaust gas recirculation on both positive power and engine retarding, comprising: energy storage means for storing energy derived from motion of an engine component; trigger valve means for selectively releasing the energy stored in said energy storage means independent of the motion of the engine component; and valve actuating means for opening the at least one valve in response to the stored energy released by said trigger valve means, wherein said trigger valve means releases stored energy from said storage means to said valve actuating means independent of the motion of the engine component.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 112 words

In an internal combustion engine, a system for opening at least one valve of the engine to provide exhaust gas recirculation on both positive power and engine retarding, comprising: energy storage means for storing energy derived from motion of an engine component; trigger valve means for selectively releasing the energy stored in said energy storage means independent of the motion of the engine component; and valve actuating means for opening the at least one valve in response to the stored energy released by said trigger valve means, wherein said trigger valve means releases stored energy from said storage means to said valve actuating means independent of the motion of the engine component.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the opening of the at least one valve provides an exhaust gas recirculation event each engine cycle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the opening of the at least one valve provides a compression release retarding event each engine cycle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the opening of the at least one valve provides at least one of an exhaust gas recirculation event, and a compression release event each engine cycle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 5, wherein said system provides variable timing exhaust gas recirculation.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 121 words

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and at least one valve associated with a cylinder of the engine, a system for providing exhaust gas recirculation to the cylinder independent of the motion of an engine component from which the energy for exhaust gas recirculation is derived, comprising: energy deriving means for deriving energy from the motion of the engine component; storage means for storing energy derived from the engine component by said energy deriving means; energy transfer means for selectively releasing the energy stored in said storage means; and valve actuation means for opening the at least one valve in response to the energy released from said storage means to provide exhaust gas recirculation to the cylinder.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 121 words

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and at least one valve associated with a cylinder of the engine, a system for providing exhaust gas recirculation to the cylinder independent of the motion of an engine component from which the energy for exhaust gas recirculation is derived, comprising: energy deriving means for deriving energy from the motion of the engine component; storage means for storing energy derived from the engine component by said energy deriving means; energy transfer means for selectively releasing the energy stored in said storage means; and valve actuation means for opening the at least one valve in response to the energy released from said storage means to provide exhaust gas recirculation to the cylinder.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 10, further comprising means for providing compression release retarding, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation is carried out in combination with compression release retarding.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 11, wherein said energy transfer means further comprises control means for determining optimal valve actuation timing for at least one valve event selected from the group consisting of an exhaust gas recirculation event, and a compression release retarding event.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one valve event is carried out in response to a signal from said control means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 11, wherein said energy transfer means further comprises a control means for determining optimal valve lift for at least one valve event selected from the group consisting of an exhaust gas recirculation event, and a compression release retarding event.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one valve event is carried out in response to a signal from said control means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 10, further comprising means for providing exhaust braking, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation is carried out in combination with exhaust braking.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 16, further comprising means for providing compression release retarding, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation and exhaust braking are carried out in combination with compression release retarding.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 10, wherein said energy transfer means includes control means for controlling the release of stored energy from said storage means to said valve actuation means for opening the at least one valve to provide the variable timing exhaust gas recirculation.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 96 words

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and at least one valve associated with a cylinder of the engine, a system for providing exhaust gas recirculation to the at least one cylinder, comprising: compression release means for opening the at least one valve to carry out compression release retarding; exhaust gas recirculation means for opening the at least one valve to recirculate exhaust gas to the at least one cylinder; and valve actuation means cooperating with said compression release means and said exhaust gas recirculation means to open the at least one valve.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 96 words

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and at least one valve associated with a cylinder of the engine, a system for providing exhaust gas recirculation to the at least one cylinder, comprising: compression release means for opening the at least one valve to carry out compression release retarding; exhaust gas recirculation means for opening the at least one valve to recirculate exhaust gas to the at least one cylinder; and valve actuation means cooperating with said compression release means and said exhaust gas recirculation means to open the at least one valve.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 19, wherein said compression release means is disabled when the engine is in a positive power producing mode.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 19, wherein the exhaust gas recirculation and compression release retarding are carried out in combination with exhaust braking.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 19, wherein said compression release means is disabled when the engine is in a braking mode, and said exhaust gas recirculation is carried out in combination with exhaust braking.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 19, wherein said system provides variable timing exhaust gas recirculation.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system according to claim 19, wherein said system provides exhaust gas recirculation independent of the motion of the engine component.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 81 words

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a valve associated with a cylinder of the engine, a system for providing exhaust gas recirculation, comprising: energy deriving means for deriving energy from an engine component; energy transfer means for selectively transferring the energy derived by said energy deriving means; and valve actuation means for opening the at least one valve in response to energy transferred by said energy transfer means to provide exhaust gas recirculation to the cylinder.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 81 words

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a valve associated with a cylinder of the engine, a system for providing exhaust gas recirculation, comprising: energy deriving means for deriving energy from an engine component; energy transfer means for selectively transferring the energy derived by said energy deriving means; and valve actuation means for opening the at least one valve in response to energy transferred by said energy transfer means to provide exhaust gas recirculation to the cylinder.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 25, further comprising means for providing compression release retarding, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation is carried out in combination with compression release retarding.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 25, further comprising means for providing exhaust braking, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation is carried out in combination with exhaust braking.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 27, further comprising means for providing compression release retarding, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation and exhaust braking are carried out in combination with compression release retarding.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system according to claim 25, wherein said system provides exhaust gas recirculation to the cylinder independent of the motion of an engine component from which the energy for exhaust gas recirculation is derived.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system according to claim 25, wherein said energy transfer means further comprises: control means for determining optimal valve actuation timing for at least one valve event selected from the group consisting of an exhaust gas recirculation event, and a compression release retarding event.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system according to claim 25, wherein said energy transfer means further comprises a control means for determining optimal valve lift for at least one valve event selected from the group consisting of an exhaust gas recirculation event, and a compression release retarding event.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 157 words

In an internal combustion engine having a selectively actuated exhaust valve capable of providing variable timing exhaust gas recirculation and compression release braking in an engine cylinder, an exhaust valve actuator comprising: a fluid tight chamber; a bifurcated piston having upper and lower portions slidably disposed within said chamber, wherein said upper and lower portions have mutually engageable shoulders for applying pressure to one another; a first port in said chamber for providing fluid in a first space within said chamber; and a second port in said chamber for providing fluid in a second space within said chamber; spring means for biasing said piston in a direction compatible with said exhaust valve being closed; wherein the provision of fluid in said first space moves said piston upper portion and said piston lower portion to said exhaust valve, and wherein the provision of fluid in said second space moves said piston lower portion to open said exhaust valve.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 157 words

In an internal combustion engine having a selectively actuated exhaust valve capable of providing variable timing exhaust gas recirculation and compression release braking in an engine cylinder, an exhaust valve actuator comprising: a fluid tight chamber; a bifurcated piston having upper and lower portions slidably disposed within said chamber, wherein said upper and lower portions have mutually engageable shoulders for applying pressure to one another; a first port in said chamber for providing fluid in a first space within said chamber; and a second port in said chamber for providing fluid in a second space within said chamber; spring means for biasing said piston in a direction compatible with said exhaust valve being closed; wherein the provision of fluid in said first space moves said piston upper portion and said piston lower portion to said exhaust valve, and wherein the provision of fluid in said second space moves said piston lower portion to open said exhaust valve.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 71 words

The valve actuator according to claim 32, further comprising: an extension member for transferring force between said piston lower portion and the valve, wherein the provision of fluid in said first space moves said piston upper portion, said piston lower portion and said extension member to open the valve, and the provision of fluid in said second space moves said piston lower portion and said extension member to open the valve.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-04	2004-01-03	2004-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-04	2008-01-03	2008-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-04	2012-01-03	2012-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus to accomplish exhaust air recirculation during engine braking and/or exhaust gas recirculation during positive power operation of an internal combustion engine

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